3 minute read

Chris Scholtz previews the Blue Diamond Stakes and SIlver Slipper Stakes meetings at Caulfield and Rosehill on February 22 with selections for all races.

ROSEHILL February 22

RACE 2: (15) Southern Appeal (EW)

RACE 3: (2) Global Quest (EW)

RACE 4: (1) White Moss

RACE 5: (6) Black Magnum

RACE 8: (8) Ken's Dream (EW)

RACE 1: 6-2-3-1

RACE 2: 15-1-5-6

RACE 3: 2-5-6-3

RACE 4: 1-2-3-5

RACE 5: 6-5-8-1

RACE 6: 8-9-6-2

RACE 7: 2-5-1-9

RACE 8: 8-2-3-12

RACE 9: 13-4-5-9

RACE 4 (1) WHITE MOSS: Can history repeat? White Moss beat Savatiano into third place on a soft track in this race last year and the pair meet under very similar weight and track conditions with this mare having a fitness advantage after her excellent first-up third under wfa conditions in the Expressway Stakes (1200m) at Randwick three weeks ago. Subsequent winners Alizee and Vegadaze have already come out of the Expressway and this big grey is ideally placed to add to that dropping back to her own sex under set weights coupled with her outstanding record of three wins from four second up starts.

RACE 5 (6) BLACK MAGNUM: Progressive 4YO added to his strong record when he won first-up under 60kg over 1000m on the Kensington track on February 5 and while rising in class he benefits from a massive 8kg drop in weight after the claim for Robbie Dolan. He was placed at his only start over this course and distance and should have no trouble matching this field in the conditions as he boasts a record of two wins and two placings from five starts on soft and heavy tracks.

RACE 8 (8) KEN'S DREAM: Taking the gamble that the Ciaron Maher/David Eustace stable have made a smart call to switch this proven wet tracker to Sydney to take advantage of the prevailing conditions as his record in soft and heavy going (3-3-8) is far superior to any of his rivals. They have taken it further by utilising a 3kg claim for apprentice Louise Day that sees him drop 8.5kg from his close last start second over 1400m at Caulfield. Rates as the horse to beat at the weights if he can hold that form

CAULFIELD February 22

RACE 4: (3) Greysful Glamour (Value)

RACE 7: (6) Rulership (EW)

RACE 8: (12) Halvorsen (Value)

RACE 9: (4) Kings Will Dream

RACE 1: 9-7-4-10

RACE 2: 3-9-8-2

RACE 3: 2-6-1-3

RACE 4: 3-1-6-4

RACE 5: 1-4-7-3

RACE 6: 8-1-7-3

RACE 7: 6-2-11-12

RACE 8: 12-13-3-10

RACE 9: 4-9-2-5

TRIAL WATCH REPORT

NOTED TRIAL RUNNERS – February 22-23

ROSEHILL SATURDAY: Acumen (R1); Blaze A Trail (R3); Every Rose (R3); Farnan (R3); North Pacific (R3); Savatiano (R4); Delectation Girl (R4); Greyworm (R5); Kubrick (R7); Wren's Day (R8);  Killer Instinct (R9)

FARNAN (Warwick Farm February 11): Did it easily to win his trial in the fastest of the five 740m polytrack heats (46.09; 35.30) and seems ready to put the lie to his failure in the Magic Millions in January. Behind him there was a lot to like about the way the unraced NORTH PACIFIC found the line for second in his first trial appearance.

CAULFIELD SATURDAY: Greysful Glamour (R4); Ball Of Muscle (R8); Bivouac (R8); Trope (R8)

BALL OF MUSCLE (Randwick February 17): Short course specialist is a perennial trial star and backed up his recent Warwick Farm trial win with another speed display, having too much  class for his rivals in the fastest 742m heat (43.08; 32.70). Seems certain to run boldly wherever he is produced first-up.

BIVOUAC (Rosehill January 28): Godolphin trainer James Cummings came away delighted with the way he performed in the opening trial of his autumn prep. Looking bigger and stronger, he cruised to a soft win in the first of the 900m heats on the course proper (55.97; 35.50).

GREYSFUL GLAMOUR (Randwick February 8): The course proper heats catered for the Group and Listed horses with GREYSFUL GLAMOUR and SWEET DEAL dominating the 1000m trial from the front. They sprinted together over their last 400m with plenty in hand and the form stood up with the latter beating a strong field first-up at Randwick last weekend.

NEWCASTLE SATURDAY: Bovalino (R2); Surf Sonic (R5); Bianchi Cup (R6)

GOULBURN SUNDAY: Power Of Attorney (R5); Nuclear Summit (R5)

RECENT TRIAL WATCH WINNERS: Secretively; Barbaric; Icebath; Sweet Deal; Harmonium; God Of Thunder; Pinvincible; Frozen In Time; Anaheed; Sylvia's Mother; Covert Ops; Black Magnum; Kaakit Akit; Roheryn; Standout; Subpoenaed.

BLACKBOOK REPORT

ELIGIBLE BLACKBOOK RUNNERS – February 22-23

CAULFIELD SATURDAY: Trope (R8); Harlem (R9); Kings Will Dream (R9); Constantinople (R9)

ROSEHILL SATURDAY: River Bird (R5); The Holy One (R7); Fortress Command (R7); Aliferous (R8); Laure Me In (R9); Bottega (R9)

EAGLE FARM SATURDAY: Star Of Michelin (R8); Naval Strike (R8)

SUNSHINE COAST SUNDAY: Fabulonh (R6)  

RECENT BLACKBOOK WINNERS: Oxford Tycoon; Cyber Intervention; Gytrash; Gaulois; Microphone; Impasse; Just Benjamin; Raqeeq; Lord Von Costa; High Bridge; Cellsabeel; Boomtown Rat; Primitivo; Invincibella; Chat; Probabeel; Leviathan; Luvaluva; Sir Pippin.

Blackbook Horses to follow – Selected February 15

(Selected horses be followed at next three starts)

CHENIER: Could be the one with the most improvement.

FASCINO: Certain to get stronger over more ground.

ADMIRAL'S JOKER: Wants 1600m and further.

MISS EXFACTOR: Will be well placed against her own sex.

POHUTUKAWA: This could be her best prep.

REELEM IN RUBY: Negative ride, negative result. Big improver.

SAVACOOL: Strong start to what should be a good campaign.